Lidocaine inhibits the proliferation and induces the apoptosis of the human ovarian granulosa cell-like cell line, KGN. KGN cells were treated with 0, 1, 5 or 10 mM lidocaine for 48 h. A MTT assay was used to measure cell proliferation. B and C Flow cytometry was performed to determine cell apoptosis (Upper left quadrant: necrotic cells; Lower left quadrant: viable cells; Upper right quadrant: late apoptosis; Lower right quadrant: early apoptosis). D Western blotting was used to analyze the protein expression levels of cleaved caspase-3, caspase-3, Bax and Bcl-2. E Ratio of cleaved caspase-3/caspase-3. F and G mRNA expression levels of Bax and Bcl-2 were analyzed using reverse transcription-quantitative PCR. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01 vs. 0 mM lidocaine group